Graduate Bulletin

Mechanical Engineering, M.S.E.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: July 1

Spring: November 1

Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of
recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic competence. Applicants employed in an engineering profession should request a letter of reference from their immediate supervisor.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Applicants should have completed coursework or have experience in mechanical engineering technology, mathematics, or the physical sciences to be considered for admission.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, or in a closely related field of study, from an accredited institution is required for admission. Applicants without an engineering degree may require certain prerequisites.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should include the applicant's long-term plans for study and research, plans for a long-term professional career, academic achievements, and professional experience, if any. It should be approximately 1-2 pages in length.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Students with GRE scores below 450 verbal, 650 quantitative, and 4.5 analytical may not be admitted.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

Graduate credits taken at an accredited institution may be transferred into the M.S.E. program. In order to transfer, the courses must be equivalent to courses offered at Temple in the student's area of study and research, and the grades must be "B" or better. The admissions committee makes recommendations for the transfer of credit. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Test Waivers:

Applicants with two or more years of employment in an engineering profession performing research and development may request a waiver of the GRE.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 24 - 27

Students choose between two options. The thesis option requires 24 s.h. of coursework and 6 s.h. of master’s thesis (ME 9996: Thesis). The non-thesis option requires 27 s.h. of coursework, plus an independent research project (ME 9995: Project) or, with permission of the department, another 3 s.h. course.

Required Courses:

ENGR 5011

ENGR 5012

ENGR 5117

ENGR 5311

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Thesis Option:

Students completing the thesis option need to complete a master's thesis, a document detailing independent research that demonstrates the student's mastery of his/her primary area of interest. The thesis research is conducted under the direct supervision of an academic advisor. The specific topic for research should be of current interest in the professional community. After a research topic is selected, the student performs preliminary research. A thesis proposal is then submitted describing the initial results and a plan for further research toward completion of the proposed research. The thesis proposal is next presented at an open seminar to the Thesis Committee, which evaluates its technical merit and research methodology. The student may continue the research only after the proposal is approved by the committee.

The final draft of the thesis should be submitted at least two weeks before the anticipated date of the thesis defense. The student's academic advisor, in consultation with members of the Thesis Committee, sets a date and time for the thesis defense. The department secretary arranges a room for the defense and posts flyers announcing the defense. In addition, the student must post the thesis defense flyer on the graduate student listserv for the department.

The Thesis Committee, a group of faculty members and possibly engineers engaged in research in high-tech industries, is responsible for evaluating the thesis and its defense. No thesis should go to defense unless it is ready for public scrutiny. The committee evaluates the primary findings of the research and their implications, technical methodology, and the student's ability to verbally present the research results. The committee votes pass/fail on the thesis and defense at the conclusion of the public presentation. If the student must make revisions, those changes must be completed within one month from the date of public presentation; failure to do so requires a new thesis defense.

Non-Thesis Option:

Students in the non-thesis option may be required to complete an independent research project and submit a report toward the requirements of ME 9995: Project. The goal of the research project is to evaluate the student's ability to perform independent research in analysis and design for an engineering application. The topic for research is selected after discussion with the student's academic advisor. The scope of research is carefully outlined so as to allow the student to complete the research in one semester. After completing the course, the student submits a final report detailing the findings of the research and presents it at an open seminar. The report is evaluated by two members of the faculty, including the student's academic advisor. With permission of the department, students may also elect another course in place of ME 9995.

About the Program

The Mechanical Engineering curriculum of the Master of Science in Engineering program provides students who already have an undergraduate engineering degree with the credentials and background to pursue a career in industrial research and development. The program provides students from diverse basic-science backgrounds with the fundamental technical-engineering expertise necessary to work in an interdisciplinary field such as bioengineering or material science. The program provides engineers who are currently employed with a means to further their technical capabilities through part-time study.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Interdisciplinary Study:

The program encourages interdisciplinary research with other branches of engineering as well as with various departments of the College of Science and Technology and the School of Medicine. Faculty are also collaborating with investigators in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering on water turbulence studies; in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering on heat dissipation in microelectronic components; and in the Department of Physics on nanotechnology research.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers research in biomaterials, composite materials and design, finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, fluidics and energetics, and target drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Job Placement:

Graduates with the M.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering are employed in high-tech industries and government laboratories in design, analysis, and applications. Typical employers include manufacturing companies; pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; companies involved in research and development in fluid flow and heat transfer; computer-aided designers and manufacturers; computer technology firms; and government offices such as the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Students who complete an M.S.E. with a thesis are prepared to enter a doctoral program.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students can take up to 9 s.h. of graduate-level courses. If accepted into the M.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering program, the student may apply those courses with a grade of "B" or better toward the M.S.E. degree requirements.
For admission to the program, students must fulfill the general admission criteria for graduate admission. Students who complete 9 s.h. in academic good standing may request a waiver of the GRE, which is usually required for admission to the M.S.E. program.

Financing Opportunities

The principal duties of a Teaching Assistant include assisting faculty in classroom and laboratory instruction, preparing apparatus or material for laboratory demonstration, conducting tutorials and discussion sections, and grading homework. TAs are expected to devote 20 hours per week to these or similar teaching-related activities. Research Assistants are expected to devote 20 hours per week to research obligations. RAs are assigned to a faculty member or principal investigator who is working on a specific research project. The appropriate subjects for research are determined by consultation between the student and the student's research and academic advisors. Both Teaching and Research Assistantships carry a stipend and tuition support for up to 9 credits per semester. All applicants for full-time admission are considered for support based on academic credentials, GRE scores, and professional experience. Applications should include a statement of research and teaching experience, areas of interest and future goals, and a curriculum vitae.